The State Department of Education shall encourage and assist school districts to improve and monitor the health of their pupils. The department shall provide guidance and assist school districts to secure the voluntary assistance of local health professionals, schools of medicine, schools of public health, schools of nursing, voluntary health agencies, and other appropriate entities in order to provide pupil health screening and appropriate medical referrals as well as to provide valuable health information to pupils and their parents. The department shall encourage school districts to contact and cooperate with the State Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health Board, with local maternal, child, and adolescent health boards, and child health and disability prevention programs established pursuant to Article 6 (commencing with Section 124025) of Chapter 3 of Part 2 of Division 106 of the Health and Safety Code.

As part of this assistance, the State Department of Education shall provide information and guidance to schools that request the information and guidance, to establish “Health Days” in order to provide screenings for common health problems among pupils as well as to provide information to pupils and parents on prevention of illness, proper nutrition, and other aspects of good health. The Health Days should be organized and staffed by school nurses working in cooperation with volunteers from schools of medicine, schools of public health, schools of nursing, voluntary health agencies, health professionals, local maternal, child, and adolescent health boards, and other appropriate entities. All medical screenings and services conducted pursuant to this section shall be conducted in accordance with Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 49400) of Part 27.

(Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 1023, Sec. 35. Effective September 29, 1996.)